Manchester United defender, Jonny Evans and Newcastle striker, Papiss Cisse have been hit with an improper conduct charge by the Football Association (FA) after their spitting storm on Wednesday night.
Evans and Cisse apparently spat at each other after clashing in the first half of Newcastle home defeat by United.
An FA statement says “the charges are in relation to an alleged breach of FA Rule E1[a].” Referee Anthony Taylor had his back on both players during their heated exchange, but video footage appeared to show them spitting at each other, after which the Senegalese turned on Evans’ team-mates.
They have both been given until 6pm on Friday, 6 March to respond to the charge.
Several television pundits and analysts have argued Evans and Cisse should have been sent off, suggesting a possible six-game ban if found guilty of the allegation.
An independent three-man panel of ex-match officials will review the footage of the spitting incident and will then pass their verdict on both players.
United centre-back Evans claims in his statement on Thursday that he was “totally unaware of any spitting incident.”
Cisse has apologised for his part in the row, which either manager at the dugout claimed anonymity of.
